Air quality is something one personally cannot control. I suppose you could rent an oxygen tank and wear a medical mask 7/24 but realistically, few people could do this. Having lived in Beijing and have recently returned for a visit, the bottom line is that Beijing air is hazardous to all living beings in the area. For me it does not matter that the Chinese government says it’s Ok, and that there are places with worse air quality, some of them in China. All the proof you need will be provided by living in Beijing for only a couple of days.
In the past Beijing was racked by spring time sand storms that came down from Mongolia. Fengsha, as it is called, is a very fine yellow particulate that permeates the air and lands on all surfaces. it is so fine that it gets through closed windows. You can clean all you want, but it’ll still get through. As it does get into your food, maybe it helps digestion, I do not know.
Outside the sand would sting your eyes and face. The best protected were the women, who wrapped their heads with see-through scarves. The kids got the same treatment.
Beijing air is polluted and is hazardous to your health
Asia Society’s China Green project (you will need Flash) has a great set of photos showing Beijing pollution. I can attest to the terrible quality of Beijing’s air, though have not experienced the worst days. Frankly I would rather live elsewhere if I can help it. Prolonged exposure to poor air quality can only be bad for your health, contributing to lung ailments.
The photo to the right uses the identical location in Beijing, but spaced three days apart. How would you like to wake up to that kind of environment?
No matter. There are 9-12M people living in Beijing, all seeming content to live there. There are other more polluted places in the world. If I have a choice, and I do, I will live elsewhere.
